1. Be Renewed in Your Mind (Ephesians 4:17-24)
2. Give No Place to the Devil (Ephesians 4:25-5:2)
3. Live in Christ's Light (Ephesians 5:3-14)

Central Truth: Christians should reflect Christ's transforming power in their lives every day.

Focus: Examine how Christ transforms believers and be transformed by Him.

Evangelism Emphasis: Lives are transformed when people accept Christ.

Key Scripture (Ephesians 5:2): and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

• Christians are "strangers" and "pilgrams"
• Our true citizenship is in Heaven, but we retain citizenship on earth
• We must live by God's principles while physically living in this world

Key Scripture (Ephesians 4:17-19): So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.

Key Scripture (Ephesians 4:20-24): That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

• Conversion means "one's mode of life, or pattern of living"
• Righteousess describes our relationship to other humans, while holiness relates to God

Key Scripture (Ephesians 4:25-28): Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”[a]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.

Q: Why is dishonesty so damaging to the body of Christ?

Q: When does anger become sinful?

Key Scripture (Ephesians 4:29-30): Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Key Scripture (Ephesians 4:31-5:2): Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. 

1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Q: Why must Christians get rid of "all" the things listed in 4:31? How is this possible?

Key Scripture (Ephesians 5:3-4): But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.

Q: How can a thankful spirit help us to lead clean lives?

Key Scripture (Ephesians 5:5-7): For this you know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. 7 Be not you therefore partakers with them.

Faithful Amid Persecution

It is not easy to be a faithful follower of Jesus when:

• Teaching our family, friends, and neighbors about Jesus can cost us our lives.
• Worshipping with our fellow believers invites wholesale slaughter by Islamic militants.
• Holding fast to our faith in Jesus and refusing to pledge allegiance to any other name results in beatings, torture, imprisonment, or death.
• Standing for the truth of what God says in His Word leads to scorn, hatred, and exclusion from our communities because it is not politically correct.

--I Am N (Voice of the Martyrs)

Key Scripture (Ephesians 5:8-14): For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14 This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

Q: Who is the sleeper in verse 14, and how can that person wake up?

• Being a Christian was never meant to be an easy road, a painless journey, or a simple three-step adherence to a set of beliefs
• He gave His life for us. Will we give our lives for Him?

M - Transformed Heart and Conduct (Proverbs 4:23-27) 

T - God Shines Light and Newness (Isaiah 42:1-10)

W - Right Fasting Shines Light (Isaiah 58:6-12)

T - Christ Shines Light (Matthew 4:13-17)

F - Renewed Minds (Romans 11:33-12:2)

S - Put On the New Self (Colossians 3:1-11)